Stormers mindful of the Handre Pollard effect ahead of Leicester Tigers clash

The Stormers assistant coach Norman Laker admits the Cape Town side are conscious of the influence of Handre Pollard ahead of their Champions Cup opener against Leicester Tigers on Sunday.

Pollard has been widely praised and deservedly so for his calming influence and the manner in which he drives the game. This was evident in the latter stages of the Rugby World Cup where he was crucial in getting the Springboks over the line.

General Pollard

This rolled over into the Leicester camp as the general has taken charge of the team and guided them to some solid results of late.

Laker admits it’s not only Pollard who they will be watching closely but also Springbok number eight Jasper Wiese who could be facing up to Evan Roos in a tasty battle.

“They are quite a structured team, they play well with Handre, he’s the driver of the team like he is for the Boks. He has a very good kicking game and a calm head.

“They also have some good ball players, Freddie Steward at 15 and Jasper can carry the ball. They are a good all-round team with a very good kicking game.”

He added: “Evan and Jasper are two contenders for the South African No 8 jersey, so there’ll be some exciting clashes.”

Clash of styles

Another fascinating battle which could be on the cards is the battle of the 10s if John Dobson decides to deploy Manie Libbok in England.

That means the two Springbok World Cup winners would go head-to-head with their contrasting styles of play making for an intriguing clash.

Libbok returned for the Stormers against Zebre last weekend and was pleased to get 80 minutes in the legs after some time away from the game.

“Playing against Zebre was crucial for me,” Libbok said. “The intensity of the game and the quality of the Zebre team made it an ideal match to get back into the rhythm of 80 minutes of rugby.”

The flair-filled playmaker revealed how much playing in the Champions Cup means to him and the Stormers.

“Being involved in the Champions Cup is a privilege, and I’m truly grateful for the opportunity,” Libbok explained.

“It’s one of the biggest competitions in the world and a great opportunity to play against the best in the world.

“Now that I’m back with the Stormers, I’m determined to give my absolute best and aim for a positive impact. It’s about contributing to the team and working together to achieve our goals.”

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